PAGE 10 BAY HARBOUR Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Wednesday <strong>June</strong> <strong>19</strong> 20<strong>19</strong> News HAPPY AS: Deputy chief fire officer Barry Craw, senior firefighter Jeremy Palmer, station officer Frank Watson, chief fire officer Bob Palmer and firefighter Mark Patterson entertain the crowd at the Big Quiz night. Diamond <strong>Harbour</strong> dairy raises $13k for fire brigade • By Jess Gibson TWO STORE owners have been key drivers in fundraising more than $13,000 for the Diamond <strong>Harbour</strong> Volunteer Fire Brigade’s new support vehicle. The brigade has been slowly raising the $50,000 needed for the vehicle for almost four years. But with help from Diamond <strong>Harbour</strong> On The Spot store owners James Grant and Laura Palmer, the brigade has almost doubled the amount it has raised to date and is now almost at $30,000. On the Spot organised a sell-out Big Quiz night at the community hall on Saturday. Mr Palmer said the decision to support the brigade was a “nobrainer.” “We see the amount of work that these men and women put in on top of their normal everyday jobs. If we were going to support anyone major in the community it was them.” The brigade has struggled in the past to effectively deal with calls out to rural areas, farms, forestry areas and areas which only have tracks for four-wheeldrive vehicles. Fire chief Bob Palmer said ever since On the Spot stepped in to help with the fundraising, the “profile of the brigade has blossomed in the community.” “It’s fantastic. This quiz has raised our profile enormously, which has resulted in people contacting us and asking how to donate towards the vehicle,” he said. •To donate to the Diamond <strong>Harbour</strong> Volunteer Fire Brigade, phone Bob Palmer on 027 240 1515. Dumbstruck by the Wiggles WOW, WHAT a week. I never thought I would have got so excited to see a children’s show, but I’m re-living my childhood vicariously through my daughter. Laura and I took Vittoria to the Wiggles last week and it was amazing. I kind of feel like the first parent to see Shrek when I say there was definitely some jokes in there for the adults too, which is why I liked it so much. It’s not just because I like the songs and stuff. It was a big surprise for Vittoria, not that it was hard to keep it from her, and it totally blew her little Wiggle-loving mind. Honestly, it was watching her love it which really made it for me. I so wish I had managed to get it on film, but when they came out on stage her wee mouth fell open so wide you could’ve driven the big red car right on in there. The running theory for me and Laura is that Vittoria was struggling to comprehend that her favourite colourful Australians were actually real. Dancing along with her was a blast, she knows a bunch of the actions and at home she even gets excited if you say the word “Wiggles” while standing near the TV. Only thing was, she OVERWHELMED: Vittoria doing hand motions with the Wiggles. VITTORIA & Matt occasionally just clammed up and sat there dumbstruck. She was clearly a little overwhelmed by the whole thing. To be fair, her Wiggles experience had exploded from watching them on Netflix to dancing along in a room chock a-block full of other hyperactive Wiggles fans while the real deal Wiggles sang on stage. By the end of the show she had her head around it. I can’t wait for them to do another show here, it’ll be interesting to see how Vittoria would go on the second round. To cap the week off, Vittoria and I have moved out to North Canterbury for a few days to look after my mum and step-dad’s place in Waikuku while they’re away on holiday. It’s just us two and two small dogs hanging out in my home town/village. It’s going to be great and likely a challenge. I’ve never really been a stay-at-home dad alone, with zero back-up at any point during the day. So look forward to an update on how that goes. •Former <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News journalist Matt Salmons has become a stay-at-home dad. We follow his journey weekly. Seven retirement villages in Canterbury HAVE YOUR SAY Akaroa’s 130 year old wharf needs replacing Share your ideas to help us design a new wharf. Tell us what’s important to you, what works well with the current wharf and what could make it better. We want to get it right! Feedback closes Wednesday 26 <strong>June</strong> ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay • Halswell • • Rangiora • • Mairehau • • Beckenham • • Riccarton • • Papanui • • Hornby • www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz • 0800 000 290
Wednesday <strong>June</strong> <strong>19</strong> 20<strong>19</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi BAY HARBOUR PAGE 11
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